The division administers the unemployment insurance program to
eligible unemployed workers and promotes employment of the Commonwealth's job
seekers. Through their telephone claims center, callers can initiate new claims,
reopen existing claims, track the status of a claim, connect with the One Stop Career
Centers, or ask questions of DUA employees.

There are two ways to file an Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Claim:

File by phone:
If you live in area code 617, 857, 781, or 339 call the TeleClaim Center at 617-626-6800.If you live in area code 508, 774, 978, 351, or 413, call the TeleClaim Center at
1-877-626-6800.

File in person:
You may file a claim in person at anyWalk-in Center, call for the
nearest location.

Information to have with you when you call/visit:
YouSocial Security Number, year of birth, and your home address and telephone number.
Whether an unemployment insurance claim in Massachusetts or in
any other state has been filed during the past 12 months, and your last day of employment.Other necessary information: the names and addresses of all employers worked for during the15 months prior to filing
a claim and the dates worked for each. If reopening a claim, the same information for
the past 8 weeks;
the reason for unemployment reduction in hours; the names, dates of birth and social security numbers for any dependent
children, if applying for dependency allowance; and Alien registration number if
not a U.S. citizen.

The Internal Control Unit has as its primary function investigating allegations of
abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct within the Division of Unemployment
Assistance. It has
implemented a 24-hour fraud hotline for employees, claimants, and employers to anonymously
report any fraud, waste, or wrongdoing in the health insurance payment and collection
process of unemployment. Confidential reports may be faxed or e-mailed as well.

This office assists Massachusetts unemployment insurance claimants who were
employed in Massachusetts and moved away to another state in the U.S. If an
individual moves to the Commonwealth from another state and he/she seeks to file
a claim for unemployment insurance against the state in which he/she was
previously employed, the individual must contact the DET office in that other
state.

Most employers who employ one or more permanent, temporary or part-time workers in
Massachusetts must pay unemployment insurance taxes. A new employer, or any employer who
has not done business in Massachusetts before, must notify DUA immediately by filing an
Employer Status Report enabling them to establish an employer account and
receive a DUA number.

Since 1990, the Health Security Act (MGL Ch. 151A, section 14G) has mandated
most employers with six or more employees to pay an unemployment health
insurance contribution per employee to the Medical Security Trust Fund to fund
health insurance for unemployed workers. DUA is responsible for collecting the health insurance contribution
as well as for
administering the Trust Fund. Under amendments (Chapter 203, section 21 of the
Acts of 1996) to the statute, exemptions exist for new employers in their first
year of business. Assistance is available for those employers
experiencing or who anticipate a hardship because of the health insurance
requirement. See Welfare/Social Services
for more information.

The Massachusetts Worksharing Program allows employers to avoid laying off some or all
of their workers by having all of the workers in a department or unit share reduced work
hours. Under worksharing, eligible employees can collect the percentage of their
unemployment insurance benefits equal to the percentage of reduction in their wages and
hours. In addition, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program was created by the
Small Business Job Protection Act. It is a federally-funded program which is used to
reduce the federal tax liability of private for-profit employers who hire new employees
from select "targeted" areas.